



FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
363 

female African. The progeny grew to be large and strong, 
but would never allow themselves to be handled only by 
myself, and even I had to be ever on the lookout for their 
treachery; and one singular characteristic with them was, 
that they ever wished to be playing in the water, like a 
mink, whenever the opportunity offered itself. Although 
any variety are quite fond of bathing at times. I think 
it beneficial, as cleanliness is a prevailing necessity with the 
ferret, both for promotion of their health and appearance, 
as filthy cages or rooms are ofttimes the occasion of disease 
and death from lice, fleas, foot rot, distemper, &c.; and 
they should never be kept in a room with or near dogs that 
have distemper, as they are sure to take the disease, which 
causes death in nine cases out of ten. 
They generally bring two litters of young each year, 
having from five to nine, and sometimes even more, at 
a time, the period of gestation being nine weeks. The 
young, being entirely devoid of hair when born, must be 
kept in a warm room until three or four weeks old, when 
they are more able to stand the cold; and being able to get 
around, now need plenty of room, and will soon learn to 
drink milk, which they should have a plentiful supply of, 
as it is quite necessary to increase their growth, and thus 
relieve the mother as soon as possible. In all cases the 
male must be removed from the female before she gives 
birth to the young, or he will destroy them. 
The principal food of the ferret is milk, bread and milk, 
and a small piece of fresh meat two or three times a week, 
with a good clean nest aside from the feeding-room. They 
vary considerable in size, length, and weight, the desirable 
point to attain being greatest length of body, with smallest 
circumference of skull and shoulders, and brightness of eye. 
They generally weigh two or three pounds at maturity, 
-although I once had a pair the female measuring twenty- 
eight and a half inches from tip of the nose to end of the 
. tail when straightened, and weighing four and a half pounds, 
the male measuring about the same in length, and weighing 
five pounds. Large ones as this, though, are very scarce, 
and really are not so useful for hunting rats, as there are 
some places the large ones. could not get, but are more strong 
and useful for rabbits. Two old males should never be turned 
in a cage together, as they are very apt to attack each other, 
when it is almost certain death to one or the other, or both 
of them. Great care should. be taken with newly imported 
ferrets until they become acclimated; for instance, kept 
warm, and in feeding avoid sour milk, as it is likely to 
make them purge, which sometimes causes death. In hand- 
ling strange or young ferrets, put on a pair of thick gloves, 
and handle carefully and very often, and you will soon get 
them adapted to it, so they will mind it no more than a 
kitten, and are a general favorite with you. 
' Hoping I have not intruded too long upon your time and 
space, I am, very respectfully, Burr Ho.tis. 
HORNELLSVILLE, N. Y, 

>. 

f@s Ciippine Winos.—Do not cut the quills square off, 
but.clip each side of them with the scissors, leaving about 
one inch at the end, which disfigures the fowl less and also 
prevents flying. 
pas A gentleman of Louisville has adog,apointer. The 
dog ran up the steps of a house and refused to come down. 
His master followed and found A. Partridge on the door 
plate. This illustrates the force of instinct. 



ITeEmMs. 
In order to make our “Item” column as interesting as possible, we 
would be obliged to our readers for contributions of original matter, how- 
ever short—yes, let it be condensed and to the point, in a variety of 
style—facts and fancies interesting to fanciers. 



pa@s> A little boy hearing of several heads of cattle being 
burned, asked his ‘‘ parient”’ if their tails were not burned also. 
s@s Seth Green is experimenting with the grayling, and 
hopes to make this fish a substitute for trout in some of our 
depleted trout streams. In the grayling the spots are black 
where in a trout they are red; but the marking and rows 
are very similar, except that they appear only about half 
way down the body. In color an emerald green shows from 
the top of the back, which changes to a light silvery color 
upon the lower part of his sides and belly. They grow from 
twelve to fourteen inches long. Their spawn is about one- 
third the size of that of the brook trout. The fact that they 
spawn in the spring, instead of the fall like trout, is greatly 
in favor of the hardiness of the grayling, which is of great 
importance in their value for transplantation. 
pes Dust Barus ror Pouttry.—Cleanliness is impor- 
tant in fowl-houses, for experience shows that poultry are 
unfavorably affected by the emanations from filthy quarters, 
and, besides, working in places where roosts and floors are 
covered with the droppings, is decidedly uupleasant. Dry 
earth, in the form of powder, scattered everywhere, will 
absorb the bad odors, giving a wholesome atmosphere to 
the hen-house, and at the same time preserve the manure in 
the least offensive condition. Besides these purposes, a box 
of dry earth should be in a convenient corner of every fowl 
house, for the fowls to roll in. Dust from the highway is 
the most convenient. Replace the same by an equal quan- 
tity of good gravel, and the public will be the gainer. 
pas I have known a great many cats, and have never 
had oceasion to change the opinion I first formed of them 
many years ago. They are very grateful creatures, seldom 
forgetting a kindness. Ifyou take in a starved cat out of 
the street, and gradually restore it to health and comfort, it 
will never forget the obligation it is under to you. I have 
repeatedly done this, and have always gained a firm friend 
in the animal so rescued from poverty. 
Cats have very good manners; they like to say ‘' good- 
morning ’’ to you after their fashion, when they first see 
youin the morning. Some people say cats have no real 
attachment to the human race; this I know to be a great 
mistake. They love people, and are very jealous in their 
fondness. Your cat will be very friendly out of doors with 
your neighbor’s cat, but will by no means allow her to come 
into your house, or be caressed by you, showing great 
anxiety if you notice the stranger. 
The purring noise that cats make to express pleasure, is a 
very pleasant sound, and never loud enough to disturb any 
one. Indeed, one great charm in these animals is the noise- 
lessness with which they move about. A French writer 
says that a cat is the only animal which is allowed entire 
liberty. We chain our dogs, we put birds into cages; but 
our cats go and come as they please. Cats are accused of 
two faults—of stealing and of being treacherous. The best 
remedy for the first is to feed them well. The charge of 
treachery cannot be borne out. If you hurt a cat, she 
thinks she has aright to punish you for it; but it is not 
necessary to hurt them. 
